Sorrento kept their title charge on track with a convincing 4-0 victory over Cockburn at Percy Doyle Reserve.

In what loomed as a potential danger game for the league leaders, any thoughts the visitors had of repeating their 4-3 victory earlier in the season were quickly dashed as the Gulls raced into a 3-0 lead by half-time. Todd Harnwell added a penalty after the break to complete the scoring and put a serious dent in Cockburn's hopes of a top-four finish.

Sorrento coach Steve Neville made just the one change to the side that started the previous week against Western Knights, with Lewis Flatt returning for the suspended Glen Thomas and the little midfielder was involved early, sending an effort from 20 yards just wide.

Flatt was involved again moments later as the hosts mounted a quick counter-attack. After a surging run through the middle he picked out Stuart Montgomery, who in turn found Stuart Banks on the left. The full-back drove in a low cross but there was no-one on hand for Sorrento as the ball flashed across an open goalmouth.

Dom De Felice had Cockburn's first effort at goal but the skipper's well-struck shot cannoned into the back of team-mate Johnny Mirco. The visitors were frustrated again when Josh Kamasz was only inches away from reaching Gio De Bartolo's centre.

At the other end Steve McDonald did manage to get a firm header on Scott Neville's free-kick but his effort lacked direction and was comfortably held by Dejan Aleksic. However, the Cockburn keeper was helpless after 14 minutes when Montgomery fired the home side ahead with a stunning goal.

Another Neville free-kick from the right was only half-cleared and when it dropped to Montgomery on the edge of the area, he chested it down and lashed an unstoppable volley into the top corner.

The visitors responded and Banks was forced to head just past his own post, before Marco Aleksic glanced an inswinging corner wide. The quick movement of the Sorrento forwards continued to cause their opponents problems and it was nimble footwork from Harnwell that led to the second goal.  He was brought down on the edge of the box by Anthony Pereira — who was cautioned for the challenge — and Neville stepped up to curl the ball beyond the wall and into the bottom corner with keeper Dejan Aleksic appearing unsighted.

While Sorrento were looking dangerous going forward, they were giving nothing away at the back and Cockburn were restricted to a series of long-range shots, with Marco Aleksic, Kamasz and Michael Mirco all failing to trouble Neil Young in the home goal.

Mirco Jelicic's side continued to fight, however, and after 28 minutes they went close to pulling one back. Young couldn't reach a corner from the right and Marco Aleksic was unlucky to see his hooked effort headed off the line by Shaun Kilkelly.

Flatt then sent a 30-yard volley whistling just wide, before James Morgan pounced on a half-clearance to drive a 25-yard volley goalwards, forcing Dejan Aleksic to pull off a fine diving save.

Banks and Neville were causing the visitors plenty of problems down the flanks and it was a cross from the latter that led to the third goal. Neville capitalised on some hesitant defending and his cross to the far post was gratefully hammered into the roof of the net by an unmarked Brodie Martin.

Sorrento continued to apply the pressure at the start of the second period with Harnwell doing well to hold off his man only to shoot straight at Dejan Aleksic from 12 yards and the same player couldn't find the target soon after, blasting high and wide after turning well.

Jelicic made a double change at the 58-minute mark, replacing Kamasz and McNally with Daniel Palermo and Jamie De Abreu and the latter almost made an impact within seconds. Fortuitously he found himself on the end of a poor centre, only for the ball to roll off his leg and into the arms of Young.
If there were any lingering doubts as to the destination of the points, they were dispelled after 65 minutes when Sorrento made it 4-0.

A neat move started with a clever flick by McDonald and ended with Harnwell being brought down in the area by Natale. Referee Michael Tolmie had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Harnwell coolly drove the ball into the bottom left corner for his 18th league goal of the season.

Flatt then saw a stinging first-time strike from the edge of the box tipped round the upright by Dejan Aleksic and from the resulting corner, Harnwell's powerful downward header was cleared off the line.

With 18 minutes remaining Neville brought off hardworking pair Montgomery and Morgan, replacing them with Michael Ord and Callum O'Connell. Shortly after he was forced to make his third change, sending on Jason Trpevski with Martin unable to continue after being on the receiving end on a hefty clash with De Bartolo - with the Cockburn player lucky not to be shown a yellow card. De Bartolo himself was then fouled as a bit of niggle started to creep into the game but Johnny Mirco couldn't beat the Sorrento wall from the free-kick from 25 yards.

He had another chance moments later from a bit closer but again his fiercely-struck effort crashed into the wall, with his follow-up volley also being charged down. With time running out, the same player forced Young into a good save, then when the loose ball finally came back to him, he could only watch in frustration as his snap shot cleared the bar.

Harnwell might have made it five in injury-time but wanted too much time and the chance was gone, but it mattered not as Sorrento continued their march to the title.

Coach Neville was delighted to pick up another three points but a little surprised to win so convincingly.

"Before the game I thought it could be a difficult game and going forward especially they've got some good quality," he said. "They're a difficult side to play against, they have some good players.

"Our first-half performance really killed the game off."

While acknowledging the finishing line is now getting close — just five league games remain — Neville knows there is still plenty of hard work ahead, with matches against fellow challengers Floreat and Perth still to come.

"All we have to do is keep winning," he said. "But that's easier said than done. From now on every game's a cup final."

Sorrento: N Young, S Neville, D Cain, S Kilkelly, S Banks, J Morgan (M Ord, 72), L Flatt, B Martin (Trpevski, 78), T Harnwell, S Montgomery (C O'Connell, 72), S McDonald   Subs not used: Y Hoshiko (rgk), D Gurovski

Cockburn: D Aleksic, A Pereira, J Godfrey, P Natale, D De Felice, M Mirco, J Mirco, S McNally (J De Abreu, 58), G De Bartolo, J Kamasz (D Palermo, 58), M Aleksic   Subs not used: N Feely (rgk), M De Felice, P Underwood
Yellow cards: A Pereira

Referee: Michael Tolmie